MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Dragons Damage Yankees Playoff Hopes, 8-2

Published on September 3, 2004 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Battle Creek, MI– Don't tell the Battle Creek Yankees (36-31, 69-67) they are playing the worst team in the league in the Dayton Dragons (20-47, 47-90), the Yanks aren't going to buy it. With five games to go, Battle Creek controlled its own playoff destiny, having a one game lead over Fort Wayne for a wild card spot and lowly Dayton on the schedule for the next five games. In the first two of those five games, Dayton has outscored Battle Creek 19-5 and has picked up a pair of wins. The second of the two was an 8-2 win Friday night in the opener of the four game set at C.O. Brown Stadium.

For the fourth time in five second half meetings between the two teams, the visiting team scored the first run of the game. The Dragons loaded the bases with one down against Abel Gomez (L, 9-10) and the Yankees. Luis Bolivar singled, Javon Moran was walked and Cody Strait was hit by a pitch. Jeff Urgelles picked up a RBI on a fielder's choice that plated Bolivar with the first run of the game for a 1-0 lead.

Dayton picked up another pair of run in the top half of the second as the bottom of the order set the table and helped the Dragons stretch the lead. A Will Hudson double plated Jorge Mejia who walked for a 2-0 lead, Bolivar then followed with a RBI double of his own that scored Hudson for the 3-0 advantage.

The game stayed 3-0 in favor of the Dragons until the top of the fifth inning, as both pitchers kept the opposition off the scoreboard. Jan Granado (W, 1-4) took a shutout through the first four innings and into the fifth. Granado allowed just one unearned run in his 6.0 innings of work. The left hander scattered five hits and picked up his first win for the Dragons on the season in the process. The Dragons and Yankees traded runs in the fifth inning, to make the count Dayton 4 Battle Creek 1 after five.

The Dragons broke the game open with three in the sixth inning off Ben Moore (ND) as the team put together a rally with two down in the inning. Back-to-back two out walks to Moran and Strait set the stage for the two RBI bloop single to left center by John Purdom gave the Dragons a 6-1 lead. Urgelles added another run to the tally with a RBI double for a 7-1 lead.

In the eighth inning, Dayton and Battle Creek traded runs for the second inning in the game. Strait picked up a RBI double for the Dragons off Yankees reliever Randy Vander Plow (ND). BC added a single run in the bottom half of the frame off Robbie Wachman (ND, with a RBI single from Matt Carson to close out the scoring at 8-2.

The Dragons and Yankees continue the four game series at C.O. Brown Stadium on Saturday night with the second game of the series. ESPN Radio 1410 Wing AM will carry the game live beginning with the pre game show at 6:30 PM. The first pitch on Wednesday is scheduled for 7:00 PM. LHP Frankie Kellar will get the start for Dayton, while Battle Creek is scheduled to send RHP Brandon Harmsen to the mound.

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Midwest League Stories from September 3, 2004


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